The Executive of West Oxfordshire Council met on Wednesday 10 June 2026, discussing a range of important issues including the transition to a new community grants platform, the future of shared service companies Publica and Ubico, and the council's financial and service performance. Key decisions included approving the move to Crowdfunder UK for community grants and endorsing the business plans for Publica and Ubico for the upcoming years.

Public Participation

Councillor Sharon Parnasse from Woodstock Town Council raised concerns about misleading publicity materials and an unauthorised banner related to the Woodstock open-air pool. She questioned whether the Cabinet Member would acknowledge the misleading imagery and text, commit to a public apology, order the removal of the banner, and disclose specific capital investment plans for the pool facilities. The council stated a written response would be provided.

Reports from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee

The Executive considered recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on 26 March 2026. Recommendations 1-4 regarding Woodford Way were not specifically agreed with, although the council stated much of the suggested work was already underway. Recommendation 2, a trial closure of Woodford Way, was not seen to offer real benefits. Recommendations 5-7 were agreed, with officers already progressing proposals for all-day parking at Marriott's Walk car park. For the Community Safety Partnership, the council agreed in part with recommendation 1 regarding proposed reductions in funding from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, and fully agreed with recommendations 2 and 3. The council will write to the Police and Crime Commissioner requesting reinstatement of funding levels where possible.

Supporting Community Services - Crowdfunder UK Approach

The Executive approved the proposed application and assessment processes, criteria, eligibility, and monitoring for a new grants scheme to be hosted by Crowdfunder UK. Authority for award decisions was delegated to the Director of Place, in consultation with the Executive Members for Stronger Healthier Communities and Arts, Culture and Sport. This move from the previous platform, Spacehive, is expected to be more cost-effective for community projects, with no platform fees for applicants, although Stripe will apply transaction fees. The council will distribute an annual budget of £120,000, with a maximum pledge of £12,000 or 50% of the campaign target. The council will not establish a separate fund for startup costs, as advice is available from officers. Ward members will be notified when an application is submitted in their ward. The new system has already seen 54 diverse projects funded.

Publica Business Plan 2026-28

The Executive endorsed the Publica Business Plan for 2026-2028 and requested that the Leader, as shareholder representative, recommend its adoption to the Publica Board. The two-year plan is designed to prepare Publica and its services for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), with Year 1 focusing on preparation and Year 2 on implementation. The plan acknowledges the uncertainty surrounding the future shape of local government in Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire but aims to keep options open for new councils. Councillor Duncan Enright praised the resilience, flexibility, and ingenuity of the Publica staff, including Ms Gore and Mr Wilson, over the recent period.

Ubico Business Plan

The Executive noted the Ubico Business Plan for 2025-26 and will note, subject to feedback, that the Leader will sign the written resolution to approve the Ubico Business Plan for 2026-2027 in due course. Councillor Alistair Wray commended Ubico for their work, noting West Oxfordshire's position as one of the top recycling areas nationally. Councillor Duncan Enright endorsed these comments, highlighting Ubico's flexibility and success, particularly in balancing economies of scale with operational efficiency and adapting to the changing local government context. The plan shifts focus from growth to scaling services and becoming more intelligent in operations, aligning with WODC's Net Zero 2030 target. Wiltshire Council will join Ubico as a shareholder on 1 August.

2025/26 Quarterly Service Review Q4

The Executive noted the Q4 service performance report, which indicated overall strong performance with most services meeting or exceeding targets. Good progress was made on the Community Infrastructure Levy, regeneration programmes like Salt Cross Garden Village, community support funding, youth engagement, and climate/environmental programmes including leisure centre decarbonisation and electric fleet upgrades. Council tax collection, customer satisfaction, and planning determination times exceeded targets, and planning income performed strongly. Affordable housing delivery significantly exceeded its target. Areas of ongoing pressure included processing times for housing benefit and council tax support due to case complexity and demand, and land charge performance impacted by staffing capacity. Recycling rates were below target, reflecting seasonal trends but remaining strong nationally. Leisure visit figures were below target for the quarter due to data capture issues, but annual figures showed an increase. Councillor Andrew Prosser highlighted work on nature recovery areas and the Coronation Community Orchard Scheme, which saw 392 trees planted across 25 orchards. Councillor Geoff Saul noted improvements in housing benefit performance and significant progress in homelessness prevention and affordable housing delivery, with 352 new affordable homes delivered against a target of 274. Councillor Alistair Wray noted that despite a slight drop in recycling rates, West Oxfordshire remains a strong performer nationally, ranking 14th out of 164 waste collection authorities. The council will consider incorporating video clips into future recycling campaigns.

Financial Performance Report 2025/26 Year End

The council delivered a strong financial position with a final surplus of £203,155, better than originally budgeted. This improved position was driven by strong income performance in trade waste and development management, higher than expected treasury investment returns (£800,000), and cost efficiencies. Resources are being transferred to earmarked reserves to support key priorities and manage future risks, including Local Government Reorganisation, the waste and environmental services programme, investment in council assets, and priority housing. The Executive recommended carrying forward the capital budget of £4,395,180, approving transfers to earmarked reserves, and approving necessary budget virements related to Publica Phase 2.

Discretionary Rate Relief Policy

The Executive approved amendments to the Discretionary Rate Relief Policy, including specific provisions for pubs, live music venues, and small businesses. Authority was delegated to the Director of Finance, in consultation with the Executive Member for Finance, for any future amendments concerning electric vehicle charging points and forecourts. The policy aims to support local businesses and follows recent government announcements on business rate reliefs. Councillor Enright expressed pleasure at the additional support for pubs and live music venues.

Procurement and Contract Management Strategy

The Executive approved the updated draft Procurement and Contract Management Strategy. This strategy outlines how the council delivers value for money, high-quality services, and broader social, economic, and environmental outcomes. It responds to changes including the Procurement Act 2023 and upcoming Local Government Reorganisation, ensuring the council remains compliant, resilient, and commercially effective. Councillor Enright noted the policy's support for effective use of council taxpayer money and local economic objectives.

Appointments to Outside Bodies 2026-28

The Executive noted the appointments to outside bodies for the 2026/27 civic year, as set out in Annex A. These appointments include representation on strategic bodies and organisations pertinent to the district, fostering partnership working and community engagement. The Leader, Councillor Andy Graham, noted that these appointments had been reviewed by leaders and were fully understood and agreed upon.

The meeting concluded at 3:00 pm.